Hi All,
I have a 60 series with Maxxis Mudders on, so I can compare tyres. I could also be accused of being biased, as apart from the Maxxis on the 60, I have been running BFG Muddies since 1990.
Anyway -
Original MTs. Took a set to the Cape on a re-built 1975 FJ40 with a fibreglass body. I agree with -Scott-, bloody awesome tyre. Second set of MTs was on the 60 series for a trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria. We were heading for Lawn Hill National Park from Camooweal and were crossing the Gregory River. I reckon someone dropped a packet of razor blades, as when I came out of the river I had a 4 inch slice through the tread. I put the last spare that I had (a brand new Khumo muddy) on which lasted 60 km before it blew out, leaving me to eat scenery sideways. To cut a long story short, I limped into Lawn Hill, took the BFG of the rim, put 4 or 5 layers of canvas over the cut inside the tyre with contact cement, put in a tube and drove it on the development road to Burktown. When I got there the split in the tread was no larger, and this vehicle was full of people and had a loaded, full length roof rack! That's when I began trusting BFGs, they definitely saved my ar$e that time! Complained to Khumo Australia, they told me that I had used the tyre "....outside of its designed use...." .
Surprise, I won't use Khumos any more.
(does this mean that a damaged BFG is stronger that an brand new Khumo?
)
KMs - Tend to go along with bogged a little bit. Generally similar pattern but different compound rubber. They lasted well on the Hunjy, but I was a bit disappointed by the amount of chipping and sidewall damage I got. I also destroyed 2 sidewalls doing things that the old MTs did without any problems. I believe that the sidewalls were too soft, making on-road handling a bit of a challenge! Still a great tyre, never actually had one fail apart from severe damage offroad.
I have a new set of the BFG KM2 Muddies on the 100. All I can say is "Bloody Hell!". When you drive them on the road, from new they are QUIET! Even in the rain (and we've had a fair bit in Queensland lately) they drive like a road tyre, they are that good in the wet. I thought that the old Muddies weren't too bad in the wet, but these are incredible. On the road I am finding that I have to brake harder towards the end when I pull up behind a car at the lights, it would seem that the rolling resistance of these tyres is far less than the old pattern. This is also shown in the increase in fuel economy that I am getting.
Offroad, when you first look at them you think that they can't be as good as the old pattern. They don't look as agressive. but once you get them offroad and into the dirt and rocks, hang on! They bite and hang on better than ever. The side lugs are bigger, the main tread lugs are not scalloped any more, they are different sizes. The sidewall is stronger with more belts to protect it. They stick like the proverbial to a blanket.
I am wrapped in them. I've only had them a short time, but I am impressed. I don't care that other tyres may be cheaper, my experience is that you only get what you pay for. The Maxxis are great tyres, but compared to the Maxxis Mudders these things are incredible.
That would mean that I have had a set of the MTs, the KMs and the KM2s! BFGoodrich should give me a medal (or at least shares in the company)!
BFG (Michelin) are running a promotion from 1 May - 30 June where if you buy a set of four BFGs they will give you a Bushranger Black Max compressor. I bought mine too early to qualify, but I am putting the hard word on my supplier as I bought eight KM2s.
My 0.02 dollars worth. As you may have guessed, I am a dyed-in-the-wool BFG user
.